Post-brace



(No Model.)

H. A. HILL. POST B RAGE.

Patented Oct. 6, 1896.

UNITED STAT s PATENT OF ICE.

HARRISON A. HILL, OF HUNTSVILLE, KANSAS.

' POS-T-BRACEI SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,948, dated October 6, 1896. Application filed June l5,196., Serial No. 595,638. (No model.)

To all whom it; may concern..-

Be it known that I, HARRISON A. HILL, of Huntsville, Reno county, Kansas, have invente'l certain new and useful Improvements in Post-Braces, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to post-braces, particularly to corner-posts for fences, for gateposts, the. and it consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed. V

In order that the invention may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 represents a perspective View of a post-brace arranged in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

In the said drawings, where like referencenumerals refer to corresponding parts, 1 designates a fence orother post to be braced.

2 designates castings which are secured to the post near its upper end .and disposed at right angles to each other. Said posts, in case they are of cylindrical formation, are chipped with a hatchet or otherwise, so as to present flat bearing-surfaces against which the castings maysecurely rest. The castings are provided with socket-s 3 for the upper ends of the inclined brace bars 4, which brace-bars at their lower ends fit within sockets 5 of the foot-plates 6, which are arranged a proper distance from the base of the post upon the ground and in the line of the fences to be supported. They are preferably secured from lateral movement or slippage by means of the pins or stakes 7, which are driven through the plate and into the ground to a suitable depth. Inwardly of the sockets 5 said plates are provided with one or more upwardly-disposed books 8, with certain of which may be engaged links 9. Said links at their opposite ends are engaged by eyes or hooks 10 at the outer ends of the rods 11, which rods are screw-threaded at their inner ends and engage the turnbuckles 13, and said turnbuckles in turn are swiveled to the outer ends of the rods 14, which rods at their inner ends are provided with hooks or eyes 15, engaging a ring-or band 16, which surrounds the post 1 near the ground. In securing this brace in its proper relative posltlon to the post the turnbuckle is operated by means of a rod or bar or by means of a wrench, or in any other suitable manner, so

as to draw the foot-plates firmly and squarely against the lower ends of the inclined braces 4, but not with sufficient power to strain said posts, as this would tend to force the post 1 out of instead of maintain it in its vertical 5 position.

After the parts are properly arranged as described the fence may be built onto the posts in the customary manner, and the wires, in case it is a barbed-wire fence, after being once stretched properly, will maintain such position, owing to the fact that the cornerposts of the fence, and also the gate-posts, which are the ones provided with my braces, will always maintain their vertical position.

The great difiiculty hitherto encountered in wire-fence buildingthat is, in keeping the wires properly tensioned, and consequently the fence erect-has been encountered because such corner-posts have been imperfectly braced and supported. With my invention the post, braced at its upper end and near the ground, is subjected to no lateral strain whatever, and consequently the wires, when once properly tensioned, unless they become unfastened or disconnected from the post, will always maintain their proper tension.

By means of the adjustable connection between the foot-plates and the lower end of the posts, and also by the employment of two or more hooks 8 upon said foot-platesnit .is go obvious that the distance between said footplates and the post may be regulated as required, though it is to be understood, of course, that I may use rods and braces of different relative lengths from those shown 5 in the accompanying drawings. It will be apparent, also, that to accomplish the horizontal hitch or tie between the'foot of each inclined brace and post I may employ any suitable connection, flexible or otherwise, I00 such as a chain, a heavy'wire or cable, or a rope, but the connection must be practically non-elastic. It may be longitudinally adjustable, as already described, but it must not stretch under any strain imposed; It is to he understood, also, that other changes may be made in the detail construction and-arrangement of parts Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is p 1. In a post-brace, the combination with a post erected from the ground, sockets secured to said post near its upper end, foot-plates staked or pinned to the ground at a suitable distance from the post and also provided With sockets, inclined brace-bars fitting in said sockets, a ring or band surrounding the post near the ground, rods connected thereto, turnbuckles swiveled to the outer ends of said rods, and rods linked to the foot-plates and engaging said turnbuokles, substantially as described. Y i

2. In a post-brace, the combination with a post erected from the ground and provided with sockets near its upper end, foot-plates staked or pinned to the ground at a suitable distance from the post, and also provided with sockets and with outwardly-disposed hooks, links engaging said hooks, a ring or band surrounding the post near the ground, rods connected to said ring or band, turnbuckles swiveled upon the outer ends of said rods, a second pair of rods pivotally connected to said links and having their screw-threaded inner ends engaged by said turnbuckles, and inclined brace-bars fitting in said sockets attheir opposite ends, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

HARRISON A. HILL.

\Vitnesses:

G. Y. THORPE, M. R. REMLEY. 

